Corrigan Center hosts gift wrap-a-thon for Toys for Tots program

HALLEY CORNELL,

Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, December 20, 2000

Toys of every color, shape and size were stacked 10 tall on tables lining the main room of the Pasadena volunteer fire department offices in the Corrigan Center. The toys awaited first wrapping and then delivery to hundreds of area children whose families may be unable to provide the toys themselves.

In the front hallway, Murline Staley greeted wrappers and handed out lists with names and ages of kids who'll receive a Toys for Tots holiday kit this year. She estimated the kits - made up of three to four toys apiece - will number over 500 when all is said and done. That's 2,000 toys to be wrapped, and just 30 or 40 jolly souls to wrap them.

"We've got people here from the fire department, the Ladies Auxiliary, First Methodist church, Sunday school classes, Girl Scout troop 181 and a bunch of good-hearted citizens who just volunteered," said Staley, who sat just outside the melee that was the wrapping room.

Inside, every available inch of floor and table space that wasn't covered with itemized toy stacks was covered by somebody with scissors, tape and a whole lot of wrapping paper - about 200 rolls worth. The wrapping started Wednesday at 7 p.m. and was estimated to last until 11 or 12, according to Harry Edwards, the fire department porter.

"We each get lists, pick out toys for the intended children, and get wrapping," Edwards said. "Some of us have families that we sponsor every year, and we deliver those gifts ourselves."

Pasadena Volunteer Firemen's Association Ladies Auxiliary member Kelly Meekins said toys and wrapping material have been donated by community groups, individuals, stores like Wal-Mart, and industrial sponsors like Lyondell-Citgo. A bulk of the supplies that filled the room, she said, are doled out by the fire department itself.

"We went out and shopped yesterday for older kids and infants, because it seems like a lot of the toys we get are focused on the middle of the age group," said Meekins, who said the Toys for Tots program supplies presents for children aged 0 to 18. "We've more than doubled the number of children we're serving this year. I don't know if that's because more people have heard of us, or just because there are more people in need."

Auxiliary President Dee Roberson said this is the second year Assistant Fire Chief J.D. Gardner, who heads up the Toys for Tots program, has asked her group to help organize the event and host the wrapping parties, which will span at least two frenzied evenings.

"We basically organize the toys, get the wrapping going, shop for extra presents, and figure out which families will receive the presents," Roberson said. "I'm a school teacher, and we got 20 families from my school alone."

Roberson said counselors at schools will often call and recommend families for the toy giveaway. Other times, families themselves will come in and request to take part.

Requests typically keep rolling in until the day the group is scheduled to deliver the toys, she said.

"We'll be wrapping tonight and Thursday," said Roberson, "and who knows, we might be shopping again Friday. Last year, when we were leaving to deliver, we had a phone call with another family requesting gifts. We try not to leave anyone out."

Meekins said from finding families, purchasing and organizing toys, wrapping and delivering, the Toys for Tots production is a month-long event.

"At some point, there's got to be a cut-off, but we don't want to have to say no to anybody," she said.

"We get so many families that really need the help," said Roberson. "The feeling you get from doing this is just unbelievable. The best thing is to have your kids be a part of this."

Edwards agreed.

"Seeing the smiles on the children's faces is priceless," he said. "Those that have give to those that have not, and giving is one of the best things you can do to keep up the real spirit of Christmas."

The fire department, Auxiliary and volunteers will deliver gifts to hundreds of families on Saturday.